Envelope feed for cigar-enveloping machines



March 10, 1931. R, J, TE 1,796,073

ENVELOPE FEED FOR CIGAR ENVELOPING MACHINES Filed May 8, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY March 10, 1931. R. J. BEUTEL ENVELOPE FEED FOR CIGAR ENVELOPING MACHINES Filed May 8, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

FIG. 7-

/ ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT J'. BEUTEL, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATIONAL CIGAR MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY ENVELOPE FEED FOR CIGAR-ENVELOPING MACHINES Application filed Kay 8, 1930. Serial No. 450,812.

This invention relates to an improvement in the wrapping of articles with transparent wrappers, such as cellophane and the like, and particularly to cigar enveloping.

Ce lophane web, in its manufacture, is stretched in the lengthwise direction so that, when affected by moisture or heat, it wrinkles in that direction. When used for enveloping cigars, the moisture normally contained therein causes a cellophane wrapper to develop such wrinkles, except in the better grades of material which are provided with a thinmoisture proof coating on both sides.

When the web is fed perpendicularly 'to the axis of the cigar, as in the usual method, the wrinkles will form crosswise of the cigar and will mar the appearance of the package materially. To avoid this condition, the web in the resent invention is fed crosswise, that is, in t e axial direction of the cigar, so that the wrinkles will lie parallel to the cigar axis, in which position they will afiect the appearance of the cigar package to a much lesser degree.

The main object of the present invention is the production of an enveloping method and apparatus wherein the cigar or other article is wrapped in such manner that any wrinkles that may be present in the wrapper will ex'- tend axially of the cigar in such relation that they will affect the appearance of the package only slightly, if at all. Another object of the invention is the production of a mechanisln for feeding the enveloping material which will supply it to the wrapping mechanism without excessive strain on the material. VYith these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the inventlon consists in certain constructions and combinations which will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which form a partof this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts: 7

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved onvelope feed;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, the

web feeding mechanism being shown in cross-' section along the radii 2, 2', and 2", respectively;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the feed rollers on an enlarged scale, taken on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail end elevation of the web cutting mechanism and its operating means;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the new arrangement of the feed as compared with a former arrangement;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the cigar receiving turret arm, showin the means for folding the wrapper aroum? the cigar;

Fig. 7 shows the appearance of a wrinkled wrapper on a cigar enveloped in a cellophane web which has been fed crosswise to the cigar; an Fig. 8 shows the wrinkles when the cigar 1S enveloped in a cellophane wrapper which has been fed lengthwise to the cigar.

In carrying the invention into effect, there. is provided a method of, and apparatus for, intermittently feedin a continuous strip of enveloping material rom a constantly moving reel 0 enveloping material carried by a rotatable support, cutting a suitable len h of material from the strip while its fee is stopped, and folding the severed length of material circumferentially about a cigar or other article to envelo it. The above means and method may be widely varied in ractice within the scope of the claims, for t e articular structure and method selected to i ust-rate the invention is but one of many ssible concrete embodiments of the same. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to the precise details shown and described.

In prior cigar envelo ing machines, as shown in dotted lines in ig. 5, a wide web W, sufiicient to cover the len h of the cigar C and to fold around its en s, is fed downward from a reel R placed on a horizontal shaft H above the turret T and parallel with the turret axis. In the present arrangement for carrying out applicants method, as shown in full lines in Fig. 5, a narrow web W, sufficient to encircle the girth of the cigar C with an adequate lap, is fed from a reel R on the vertical shaft 10 in front of the turret by rollers and 41 through a pair of holders 69 placed parallel to the axis of the turret at its cigar receiving station. The cigar C, in the present arrangement, is fed into the horizontal arm A of theturret T from the far side of the web and passes between the aforesaid web-holders 69 and carries the web W with it into the turret. The length of web to be fed, while formerly only that required to wrap around the cigar, now corresponds to the length of the package.

To supply this greater length of web without undue strain on the wrapper material, the inertia of the reel R is utilized by causing the forward motion of the web W, on starting the feed rollers 40, 41, to wind up a weak coil spring, hereinafter described, by means of an idler roller 29 carried on a floating arm, connected to the spring as hereinafter described, the web V passing from the reel over the movable idler 29 and over a stationary guide roller 39 into the feed rollers 40, 41 which intermittently feed the web end into position in the holders 69. As soonas theincreased tension of the spring connected. to the floating arm overcomes the resistance of the reel R, the latter commences to turn and feed a new length of web. When the feed rollers 40, 41 stop, after having advanced a length of wrapper suificient for one package, the reel R, owing to its inertia, keeps on turning while the tension of the spring connected to the floating arm continues turning it towards its former position, so that the idler 29 on the floating arm keeps in tension the extra length of wrapper unwound from the reel during its continued turning. The tension of the coil-spring is so adjusted that the extra length unwound is just suflicient to supply the feed without turning the reel on starting the next package, In the meanwhile, the feed rollers start feeding the web again and the same cycle of operations is repeated. Thus, while the motion of the reel R is more or less continuous, that of the web lV is more or less constant, and undue strain on the wrapping material is avoided.

Referring to l and 2 of the drawings, the reel R is supported by the vertical shaft 10 being clamped by the conic center plug 11 to the hub 12 of a disk 13 rotating on the shaft 10 and resting on thrust bearing 14 supported on the shoulder 15 of shaft 10. The shoulder 15 rotates on the hub 16 of the arm 17 which turns on thrust bearing 18 supported by the hub 19 of the stationary bracket 20, having its central, downwardly extending stem 21 fitted into the tubular portion of the bracket 22 attached to the base 23 of the machine. The bracket is prevented from turning in the support 22 by a pin 24 threaded into its stem 21 and projecting into a vertical slot cut in the lower end of the tubular portion of support 22. The lower end ofv the tubular portion of the bracket 22 is provided with a cap 25 suitably attached thereto and having the adjusting screw 26upon which rests the end of stem 21, this arrangement serving to raise or lower the vertical shaft 10 to suit different widths of reels as required for wrapping cigars of different thickness.

The arm 17, which is loose on shaft 10, carries a vertical stud 27, on bearings 28 on which turns the idler roller 29, over which runs the web lV from the reel R. Integral with or attached to its hub, the arm'17 has a gear segment 30 meshing with a gear 31 on stud 32 of the stationary bracket 20, the arm 17 being freely rotatable between the stoppins 33 in the bracket 20 which are disposed in the path of the flange on arm 17. To a pin 34 in the gear 31 is fastened one end of a spring 35 coiled around stud 32 and having its other end attached to a pin 36 in the bracket 20.

One arm of bracket 20 carries at its outer end a stud 37, on bearings 38 of which is rotatable a roller 39 which guides the web from idler roller 29 into the intermittently operating feed rollers 40 and 41. The other arm of bracket 20 has a vertical stud 42, radially adjustable in a slot in the arm by means of screw 43, the stud 42 carrying a horizontal rod 44 to which is attached a brake shoe 45 hearing against the hub of disk 13 and held in tension by a spring 46 on the rod, so as to exert a light drag on the motion of reel R, for the purpose of preventing jerking rotation of the reel under the tension of the intermittently operating feed rollers with a resulting production of slack in the web.

When the feed starts up for a new package, the pull exerted on the web W by the feed rollers 40 and 41, which are intermittently driven by means of a gear 47 and a rack 48 attached to a rod 49 actuated by a cam not shown, causes the floating arm 17 to move forward towards the feed rollers into the position 17 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, thereby winding up the spring 35 by means of the gear 31 and the segment 30. As soon as the increased tension of the spring 35 overcomes the resistance of the reel R, the latter turns, feeding anew length of web. -When the rollers 40 and 41 stop. after having moved a length of wrapper sufficient for one package, the reel R. owing to its inertia, keeps on turningwhile the spring 35 by means of the segment 30 and gear 31, turns the floating arm 17 towards its former position, thereby keeping in tension the extra lengthof wrapper unwound by the continued turning of the reel. In the meanwhile, the feed rollers 40 and 41 start feeding the reel again and the same cycle of operations is repeated.

The rack 48 turns the gear 47 on its downward stroke only, thereby revolving the shaft 50 to which is fastened a bevel gear 51 meshing with the gear 52 carried by the vertical shaft 53 supported in bracket54, attached to the frame 55 carried by the base 23 of the machine. On the upward stroke of the rack, the shaft 50 is prevented from turning by suitable means, such as a pawl and ratchet attached to gear 47 or a ball clutch carried by gear 47 or shaft 50. To the shaft 53 is fastened the feed roller 40 carrying the gear 56 meshing with a gear 57 on the feed roller 41 carried by the eccentric shaft 58, as shown in Fig. 3.

The arms of bracket 54, as shown in Fig. 3, are slotted to receive the slide blocks 59 which support the eccentric shaft 58. Attached to the bracket 54 is a cross bar 60 carrying the adjusting screws 61 by means of which the springs 62 are pressed against the blocks 59, thereby permitting the adjusting of feed roller 41, which has the rubber lining 63, for proper tension of the feed rollers on the web W. The handle 64 fastened to the eccentric shaft 58 provides means for swinging the roller 41 away from the roller 49 when it is necessary to thread a new web.

The web 1V is fed by the rollers 40 and 41 into the guides 65. then passes the knife 66 held by the hub 67 clamped to shaft 68, and enters the holders 69 fastened to the plate 70 carried by frame 71. The web rests in the holder 69 while being cut by the knife 66 which moves against the shear plate 72 car ried by the arm 73 on the shaft 68. the two being held in contact by a spring 74 placed on the shaft 68 between the frame 71 and a collar 75 on shaft 68. The motion of the knife is controlled by a cam 76 on a shaft 77, as shown in Fig. 4, through a lever 78 carrying a roller 79 riding in the cam track 80, the lever 78 being fast on shaft 81 carrying;' the arm 82 which is connected by the pin 83 to a link 84. the latter in turn being connected by the pin 85 to an arm 86 which is clamped to the knife shaft 68.

The web, after being cut, rests in the holder 6.) until the cigar C which is carried forward by a transfer arm, not shown, is pushed between the holder 69, thereby carrying the web 1V with it into the turret arm A which takes it around, thereby folding and sealing the same around the cigar, and finally discharging the finished cigar package.

\Vhile the turretarm A is stationary at the receiving station of the turret, Fig. 6. the underside flap of the wrap er \V is folded upwards against the side 0 the cigar C by the reciprocating folder F which then moves up with the turret, thereby holding the lower flap in its folded position until the upper side flap of the wrapper engages the stationary folder S. As the arm A then continues to advance. the upper flap is folded downwards over the lower flap. as shown in the dotted position.

If the wrapper were wrinkled due to atmospheric conditions, or has become so during enveloping from the moisture of the cigar, the finished package, if made in the old way with the wrapping web fed crosswise to the cigar, would have the appearance shown in Fig. 7. a comparatively large number of wrinkles crossing the cigar. \Vith the improved method of feeding the web, however, only a few wrinkles will show lengthwise of the cigar and the finished package will appear as in Fig. 8, in which it is assumed that all the wrinkles will run over the entire length of the package, which would happen only in rare cases.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. I n a cigar enveloping machine. the combination with a rotatable support for a reel of cellophane enveloping material, of mechanism arranged to intermittently feed a continuous strip of material from the reel lengthwise of the cigar to a position adjacent thereto, cutting means for severing asuitable length of material from the strip, and means for folding the severed length of material circumferentially about the cigar to envelop it, whereby cross wrinkles in the cellophane package thus formed are avoided.

2. In a cigar enveloping machine, the combination with a rotatable support for a reel of cellophane enveloping material. of mechanism arranged to intermittently feed a continuous strip of material from the reel lengthwise of the cigar to a position adjacent thereto, cutting means for severing a suitable length of material from the strip, and means for folding the severed length of material circumferentially about a cigar to envelop it, whereby cross wrinkles on the cellophane package thus formed are avoided. said support including a freely rotatable disk adapted to carry the reel and said mechanism including a resiliently mounted brake shoe arranged to engage the disk to prevent jerking rotation of the reel.

3. In a cigar enveloping machine. the combination with a rotatable suppolt for a reel of cellophane enveloping material. of mechanism arranged to intermittently feed a continuous strip of material from the reel lengthwise of the cigar to a position adjacent thereto, cutting means for severing a suitable length of material from the strip. and means for folding the severed length of material circumfercntially about the cigar to envelop it. whereby cross wrinkles in the cellophane package thus formed are avoided. said mocha nism including aspring actuated floating arm arranL'cd to draw the material from the reel.

4. In a cigar enveloping machine, the comhination with a rotatable support for a reel of cellophane enveloping material, of mechanism arranged to intermittently feed a. continuous strip of material from the reel lengthwise of the cigar to a position adjacent thereto, cutting means for severing a suitable length of material from the strip. and means for folding the severed length of material circumferentially about the cigar to envelop it, whereby cross wrinkles in the cellophane package thus formed are avoided, said mechanism including an intermittently driven feed roller and a cooperating roller driven from said first roller.

5. In a cigar enveloping machine, the combination with a rotatable support for a reel of cellophane enveloping material, of mechanism arranged to intermittently feed a continuous strip of material from the reel lengthwise of the cigar to a position adjacent thereto, cutting means for severing a suitable length of material from the strip, and means for folding the severed length of material circumferentially about the cigar to envelop it, whereby cross wrinkles in the cellophane package thus formed are avoided, said cutting means including a cam operated knife and a shear blade cooperating therewith.

6. In a cigar enveloping machine, the combination with a rotatable support for a reel of cellophane enveloping material, of mechanism arranged to intermittently feed a continuous strip of material from the reel lengthwise of the cigar to a position adjacent thereto, cutting means for severing a suitable length of material from the strip, and means for folding the severed length of material circumferentially about the cigar to enw'r'elop it, whereby cross wrinkles in the cellophane package thus formed are avoided, said fold ing means including a holder for the severed length of material, a rotary turret adapted to receive the severed material and a cigar from the holder, and folders for overlapping the edges of the material on the cigar in the turret.

7. In a wrapping machine, the combination with a rotatable support for a reel of cellophane wrapping material, of mechanism arranged to intermittently feed a continuous strip of material from the reel lengthwise of the cigar to a position adjacent thereto, and cutting means for severing a suitable length of material from the strip to form a wrapper, whereby cross wrinkles in the wrapper are avoided. v

8. In a wrapping machine, the combination with a rotatable support for a reel of cellophane wrapping material, of mechanism arranged to intermittently feed a continuous strip of material from the reel lengthwise of the cigar to a position adjacent thereto, and cutting means for severing a suitable length of material from the strip to form a wrapper, whereby cross wrinkles in the wrapper are avoided, said mechanism including a spring actuated floating arm arranged to draw the material from the reel.

9. The method of enveloping cigars which comprises intermittently feedingqa continuous strip of cellophane lengthwise of the cigar to a position adjacent thereto, then cutting a suitable length of material from the strip while its feed is stopped, and then folding the width of the severed strip of material circumferentially about the-cigar .to envelop it," whereby cross wrinkles in the cellophane ing the width of the severed strip of material I circumferentially about the article to wrap it, whereby cross wrinkles in the cellophane package thus formed are avoided.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ROBERT J. BEUTEL. 

